Australian meat could soon be granted tariff-free entry to the United Kingdom under a major free trade deal, despite objections from British farmers.
Australian meat could soon be granted tariff-free entry to the United Kingdom under a major free trade deal, despite objections from British farmers.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan is confident he can finalise the in-principle agreement in the next six weeks as both nations sprint to the finish line.
However, the deal has caused consternation within Boris Johnson's government and among UK producers.
British farmers have expressed concerns about the pending deal, saying they struggle to compete with countries that don't have their high animal welfare and environmental standards.
They claim Australian meat imports do not meet UK benchmarks, and warn the deal will create an uneven playing field.
Mr Tehan rejected the assertion and said Australia wanted to offer British consumers the option of high-quality goods over other imports.
"Australian food is of the highest quality. We are world leaders when it comes to food safety, traceability, animal welfare standards, land management and environmental management," he told The Australian.
"We have a robust regulatory framework for the use of agriculture and veterinary chemicals and strong compliance among producers."
Mr Tehan said Australia's red meat industry had set ambitious carbon targets, meeting Britain's demand for climate-friendly products.
Australian beef and sheepmeat producers currently face inhibitive tariffs and caps on exports to the UK.
National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson said the UK was a small market a very long way away for Australian farmers.
Ms Simson said she did not want to get into a tit-for-tat spat with the National Farmers' Union in Britain.
She said the UK would only be a niche market for Australian farmers, but stressed the importance of exporting to as many countries as possible.
"We like a lot of markets, a lot of diversification," Ms Simson said.
Mr Tehan spent two days with UK trade secretary Liz Truss during a recent visit to London.
"We are now meeting every week in a sprint to have an in-principle agreement by the end of June," he said.
